Comprehensive Examination Performance and Work Performance

The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design. Using the convenience sampling technique, the study obtained a total of 61 respondents from both MAEd and MBA graduates. Through the adoption of the questionnaire developed by Koopman (2014) entitled” Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ) the study gathered necessary data. The study discovered that most of the respondents are Master of Arts in Education degree holders and currently occupying a position of Teacher III. Additionally, Graduates of MAEd and MBA obtained good performance in the Comprehensive Examination. Moreover, work performance of the Graduates in terms of contextual performance, adaptive performance and counterproductivity work behavior is excellent while very good in task performance. Lastly, the study revealed that there is no significant relationship between the comprehensive examination performance and work performance of the respondents. The study suggests to encourage ongoing education and professional development opportunities for Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) graduates, establish a peer tutoring or study group initiative within the MAEd and MBA programs, launch a recognition and rewards program within the organization, and undergo Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to maintain competence in their professional practice

Clinical Problems in the Hospitalized Parkinson's Disease Patient: Systematic Review

The problems Parkinson's disease (PD) patients encounter when admitted to a hospital, are known to be numerous and serious. These problems have been inventoried through a systematic review of literature on reasons for emergency and hospital admissions in PD patients, problems encountered during hospitalization, and possible solutions for the encountered problems using the Pubmed database. PD patients are hospitalized in frequencies ranging from 7 to 28% per year. PD/parkinsonism patients are approximately one and a half times more frequently and generally 2 to 14 days longer hospitalized than non-PD patients. Acute events occurring during hospitalization were mainly urinary infection, confusion, and pressure ulcers. Medication errors were also frequent adverse events. During and after surgery PD patients had an increased incidence of infections, confusion, falls, and decubitus, and 31% of patients was dissatisfied in the way their PD was managed. There are only two studies on medication continuation during surgery and one analyzing the effect of an early postoperative neurologic consultation, and numerous case reports, and opinionated views and reviews including other substitutes for dopaminergic medication intraoperatively. In conclusion, most studies were retrospective on small numbers of patients. The major clinical problems are injuries, infections, poor control of PD, and complications of PD treatment. There are many (un-researched) proposals for improvement. A substantial number of PD patients' admissions might be prevented. There should be guidelines concerning the hospitalized PD patients, with accent on early neurological consultation and team work between different specialities, and incorporating nonoral dopaminergic replacement therapy when necessary. © 2011 Movement Disorder Societ

Quercetin-Grafted-Starch/Polylactic Acid (Pla) Composite Film for Active Food Packaging Applications

Due to environmental concerns, researchers made efforts to study biopolymers that can potentially replace petroleum-based plastics in the market. Starch is one of these biopolymers. Starch alone, however, is inadequate to form materials with desirable properties so it is usually blended with other polymers like polylactic acid (PLA). Aside from enhancing the biodegradability, plastic packaging is also being developed to help improve the shelf-life of food. This type of packaging material is known as “active packaging”. In this study, quercetin was grafted to starch using Ascorbic acid/ Hydrogen peroxide as initiators. The antioxidant films were then fabricated by blending quercetin-g-starch (QgS) and PLA. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were done to verify the presence of quercetin in the conjugate. The amount of quercetin grafted to starch is 42.91 mg QE/g dry polymer, which is higher compared to some grafted biopolymers made with the same initiator systems. The Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of QgS proved that the thermal properties of the grafted starch were unaffected by the grafting method. The crystallinity of the starch moiety in QgS was also unaffected but an additional peak at 27.4° ascribable to quercetin appeared in the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) spectrum of QgS. QgS/PLA films exhibited lower tensile strength than pure PLA due to aggregation of particles within the films. Still, they exhibited higher antioxidant activity with the following concentrations: 29.59%, 76.14%, 79.43% and 77.05% for 0.5%QgS, 1%QgS, 3%QgS and 5%QgS films, respectively. Thus, a bio-based active packaging material with good antioxidant properties was successfully fabricated. This material can further be developed to cater to the needs of the food packaging industry

Teacher’s Facilitating Strategies in Conducting Science Investigatory Project

International audienceObjective: The study assessed the science teacher’s facilitating strategies in conducting the Science Investigatory Project (SIP) in the new normal in terms of formulating a problem, developing a design, and constructing an explanation. Methods: A descriptive-correlational research method was utilized using a survey questionnaire administered to 293 STEM students and 59 STEM research teachers. Findings: Findings revealed that teachers have agreed that the facilitating strategies in conducting SIP in terms of formulating a problem, developing a design, and constructing an explanation have been practiced in the new normal setting. Students strongly agreed that the facilitating strategies had been mostly practiced by the teachers in the new normal. Conclusion: STEM teachers have adapted to the sudden shift in the educational system. They have been prepared with skills and have been practicing various facilitating strategies that have assisted students in conducting their SIPs in the new normal